A beluga whale suspected of being trained as a Russian spy has been found dead.
The animal – who was known as Hvaldimir – was found floating at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway on Saturday by a father and son who were fishing, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported.
Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who has monitored the whale for the past three years, said it is unclear what Hvladimir died of, adding no major external injuries were visible.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Mr Strand said. “He was apparently in good condition [as of Friday]. So we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”
Regina Crosby Haug from One Whale, an organisation that campaigned to protect Hvaldimir, added he was a “healthy young whale with no signs of illness”.
“I really hope that this is not human-related,” she added.
Hvaldimir was first spotted near the Norwegian island of Ingoya in April 2019. He was wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera.
One of the buckles had “equipment St Petersburg” written on it.
He was given the name Hvaldimir combining the Norwegian word for whale – hval – and Russian President Putin’s first name Vladimir.
His discovery sparked allegations that the animal was “a spy whale”, trained by the Russian navy for military purposes – something experts said is known to have happened.
Norway-based charity Marine Mind said it is believed the whale entered Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity.
There is also speculation that he could have been used as “a therapy whale” in Russia.
‘Special to so many’
Over the years, Hvaldimir was seen in several Norwegian coastal towns and it quickly became clear that he was very tame and enjoyed playing with people, NRK said.
This made him somewhat of a celebrity in the local area.
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“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,” Marine Mind said in a statement after Hvaldimir’s death.
“Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature.
“He was special to so many, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege to encounter him. His legacy will continue to inspire our work and our mission to protect the ocean and its inhabitants.”